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The Housekeepers: They come from nothing. But they'll leave with everything...

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Imagine Ocean's 8 had an illegitimate baby with Fingersmith - a big fat diamond of a book, sharp and shiny, joyful and generous, intricately plotted and featuring an ingenious use for a trapeze." - Erin Kelly It’s 1905. Housekeeper, Mrs King, has been dismissed from her role at one of the luxurious houses in Park Lane, Mayfair, London. The Master of the house has passed away, leaving behind a daughter who grieves by hosting a ball. These events bring the opportunity for Mrs King and some close friends to right some wrongs - planning an Oceans 11 style heist to rob the big house while the ball is underway! You shouldn't forget where you come from,' said Mrs King thoughtfully. She took out her pen, signed the first letter with a flourish. ' The Housekeepers will do nicely.' I adored the incredible women Mrs King draws from the underbelly of Edwardian London to pull off her outlandish endeavour – each with their own score to settle and very particular take on morality – and couldn’t help but urge them on in their pursuit of revenge, riches and the truth.”

The Housekeepers by Alex Hay - Publishers Weekly The Housekeepers by Alex Hay - Publishers Weekly

A treasure trove of contradictions: fast-paced but thoughtful, vengeful but compassionate, satisfying but completely unpredictable. Alex Hay has written a deliciously clever novel... You'll never have so much fun cheering on grand larceny." - Nina de Gramont Of course, things rarely go exactly according to plan, and there are hiccups along the way. The night of the ball is fraught with difficulties, and Mrs. King and her team of workers must adapt and think on their feet to escape the notice of others.Despite years of service, Mrs King is unceremoniously dismissed from her role as housekeeper at the de Vries residence on Park Lane in Mayfair. Mr Shepherd, the Butler, has advised the lady of the house, Miss de Vries, that Mrs King was seen entering the male quarters the night before. An example must be made; no whiff of impropriety can stain the reputation of the de Vries family.

The Housekeepers | Alex Hay | 9781525805004 | NetGalley The Housekeepers | Alex Hay | 9781525805004 | NetGalley

The night of London's grandest ball, a bold group of women downstairs plot a daring revenge heist against Mayfair society in this dazzling historical novel about power, gender, and class

The Housekeepers

But Mrs. King had her own reasons for entering service in this particular household and rising through its ranks. Her dismissal, as much as it most definitely rankles, frees her up to begin step one of a fiendishly clever plan. This book was right up my dark and devious alley. I have always been one to champion the underdog and while Mrs King may seem to be exactly that, she is not to be underestimated. Her plot bands together a fantastic group of women that made my feminist little heart want to own a petticoat containing a secret plan too. When Mrs King, the respected housekeeper in one of the grandest homes in Mayfair, is suddenly dismissed from her post, she decides to take action— by stripping the place bare.

The Housekeepers: A Novel - Kindle edition by Hay, Alex

I was intrigued by the plot, setting and period - the promise of a good heist from a wealthy London mansion - all very ‘upstairs and downstairs’ vibes. There are secrets and revelations to keep readers engaged as the countdown to the big day plays out. How are the various characters connected? Why is Mrs King so driven? Is this plan feasible? The rich house descriptions and eclectic group of characters are certainly unique. Returning to her criminal roots and the world of con artists and thrives that raised her, Mrs King recruits an eclectic group of women, each seeking their own form of revenge. Mrs. King laid out all the knives on the kitchen table. She didn’t do it to frighten Mr. Shepherd, although she knew he would be frightened, but just to make the point. She kept good knives. She took excellent care of them. This was her kitchen. The Housekeepers by Alex Hay is a great historical fiction that has it all: mystery, intrigue, suspense, action, and a heist like no other. The night of London's grandest ball, a bold group of women downstairs launch a daring revenge heist against Mayfair society in this dazzling historical novel about power, gender, and class.So, If you loved the scheming, no holds barred grittiness of Peaky Blinders or enjoyed Downton Abbey-not for the Crawley family’s escapades, but for the compelling glimpses into the lives of their servants—then you’re definitely gonna enjoy this ambitiously pacey and delightfully audacious debut. Mrs. King plans to strip the de Vries house of all its opulence and wealth with the help of her crew of carefully recruited servants, from its priceless art on the walls to the books in its library, furniture, and plush carpets to all the silverware, until nothing is left. Senior commissioning editor Frankie Edwards won world rights to the Edwardian heist novel from Alice Lutyens at Curtis Brown. Headline Review will publish it as a lead launch title in spring 2024. More importantly, despite such a huge cast of characters, it is never confusing to remember who is who. This is even more significant when we keep in mind that the third-person narrative baton keeps shifting across various characters to give us a bird's eye view of the planning and implementation. The story is surprisingly easy to follow despite many intricacies and characters.

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